Perform Green are delighted to be part of a consortium that has been awarded UK Government funding to develop an operational proof-of-concept demonstrator of 5G-enabled Connected Autonomous Logistics and a private 5G regional Core for the North East.
This project will deliver a huge stride forward in Connected and Autonomous Logistics (CAL), taking 5G enabled solutions out of the testbed into an operational manufacturing environment. Our aim is to develop and test 5G-enabled autonomous 40-tonne trucks to distribute parts and assemblies across the Nissan plant, linking to many local businesses in their supply chain. What is special is that we are removing the need for a safety driver, and introducing teleoperation as back up on site. The key ambition is to demonstrate, in an industrial operational environment how these technologies can drive operational efficiencies and improve productivity. Our vision is to develop a globally unique centre of excellence and operational test facility for CAL at the Nissan Sunderland site.
The project will lead to an operational blueprint for the roll-out of 5G-enabled CAL across the UK and globally.
Perform Green’s role in this project will be to provide technical advisory and assurance, coordination of the 5G implementation and for support for integration of the 5G network as well as cyber security and dissemination support.
The project is led by the North East Automotive Alliance, and will be based at the Nissan campus in Sunderland. In additional to Perform Green, the project will involve: Nissan, Vantec (Nissan’s last-mile delivery partner), Fergusons Transport, StreetDrone (specialist autonomous vehicle SME), Sunderland City Council and the universities of Newcastle and Coventry. The project is also being supported by Zenzic, the DFT and NE LEP.
Toby Rhodes, Perform Green Director said:
“We are excited to be a member of this consortium to build a 5G-enabled CAL to test fully autonomous HGV’s with remote operators in an industrial setting and a private 5G Core for the North East. This represents a step-change in the application of 5G in in industrial and commercial environments where 5G is essential for remote operation. Moving from being part of the team developing the proposal to being a consortium member securing the funding to progress to build enhances Perform Green’s reputation for innovation and smart society solutions.”
Paul Butler, Chief Executive of the North East Automotive Alliance, said:
“Automated last mile logistics is one of the major innovation challenges, this is especially true in the automotive sector with its synchronous and highly complexed supply chains. This project will prove last mile delivery for an autonomous HGV, the 5G will uniquely enable the removal of the safety driver from the process, allowing remote teleoperations to overcome abnormal situations. Through our industrial base and the unique assets of our road transport sector the North East offers a globally unique location to support the design, development and manufacture of Connected and Automated Logistics solutions. This project represents a major opportunity to support and accelerate economic growth, creating an exemplar that will encourage further private and public sector investment.”